What games did you play when you were a child? Do you remember playing with other children from your family and community? Do you remember the fun you had and what you learnt without even realising it?

Reading clubs across South Africa are sharing with us the ways that they are using the bilingual 

Children learn to read by reading! Although this sounds obvious, we often forget the age-old example: If you plant a seed, you must keep watering it so that it grows into a strong plant. It is the same with reading. Once the seed of reading has been planted, you need to nurture it so that their love of reading grows stronger.

There is no single correct way of starting or running a reading club.

Small reading clubs offer lovely opportunities for in-depth exploration of storie

Here are some activities you could offer during a reading club session. You do not need to do all of them each time the reading club meets. Most reading clubs with several children and some volunteers like to do some activities – like games and songs, reading aloud and storytelling – in every session. Choose from the other activities depending on how they link with the books and stories you are sharing with the children and how much time you have available.

Reading aloud is an important aspect of children’s literacy learning:

Planning for a reading club session is like creating a map that is your guiding tool – without it you might get lost!

Reading clubs meet anywhere where there is a quiet space, at any time and for as long as is convenient for them.